Alaska Airlines' Acquisition of Hawaiian Clears Key Antitrust Review

Alaska Airlines’s acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines received approval from the Justice Department, clearing the way for the $1.9 billion deal to proceed. The merger is the first major U.S. airline merger in nearly a decade and will expand Alaska’s operations, solidifying its position as the country’s fifth-largest airline. While still smaller than the four largest airlines, Alaska will command approximately half the market share of United Airlines. Final approval from the Department of Transportation is still pending. Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii praised the deal and thanked the Justice Department for considering the state’s needs in the review.